We Are Miami Area Attorneys Who Stand Up For Nursing Home Residents Suffering From Untreated Infections Or Sepsis
Infections pose significant risks for the elderly – especially those already suffering from underlying health problems. An infection that could be readily treatable in a healthy person can quickly turn deadly in a vulnerable elder, leading to sepsis or other conditions.
Nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals must be vigilant about monitoring for infections in elderly patients. Swift medical intervention is essential for keeping the infection under control.
If your loved one’s caretaker failed to respond properly and an infection was left untreated, we may be able to help. Contact our North Miami Beach attorneys today for a free consultation. Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A., serves all of Florida.
Health Care-Associated Infections In Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are supposed to be places where people get better when they need long-term care. Elderly people, people in rehab and people with chronic illnesses may spend long times in nursing homes. Unfortunately, nursing home residents are at serious risk of such infections as:
- Urinary tract infections
- Severe bedsores/pressure sores
- Strep throat
- Pneumonia
- Influenza
- Gastrointestinal illnesses
- Open wounds or sores that won’t heal
- Bed sores
- Staph
- MRSA
- C. difficile
Hospitals and nursing homes are made to help people convalescing. It is inevitable that such a place would be a home to frequent diseases. However, safeguards and vigilance can go a long way to prevent infections and danger. But lapses – especially in the nursing home setting – are common.
Identifying Infections In Nursing Home Residents
Signs of an infection may include:
- Increased temperature
- Confusion and altered mental status
- Lethargy, weakness and exhaustion
- Decreased appetite
- Increased heart rate
- Blood or pus in a Foley catheter bag
- A wound that becomes red, inflamed or has black necrotic material on it
As soon as care providers identify these symptoms, they should report the infection to a physician, transfer the patient to a hospital or perhaps even call 911. The family members should also be informed.
When Nursing Home Infections Lead To Sepsis
If an infection goes unnoticed and untreated for too long, then it can quickly escalate, spreading throughout the patient’s body and leading to catastrophic system failure. This condition – called sepsis – is a life-threatening medical emergency. And because sepsis is a response, the most concerning danger of sepsis is that it primarily affects people who are already physically ill.
Sepsis is not always preventable, unfortunately. Doctors and health care workers do everything to safeguard people from it, but it can’t be totally prevented. Because of that, sepsis is a chief worry for patients who are already ill in some way and are consistently monitored. If you or a loved one comes down with sepsis and it is not caught quickly, it’s almost certainly a sign of negligence.
Get Answers About Why An Infection Was Not Treated
Has your loved one’s life been compromised by abuse or neglect? Perhaps they weren’t transferred to a hospital in time to get the appropriate care. Or maybe the infection was overlooked entirely until it became systemic. Maybe it led to a downward spiral that culminated in your loved one’s death.
You don’t have to face such a difficult situation alone. At Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A., our Florida untreated infection lawyers can investigate your loved one’s circumstances to find out what went wrong. We are not afraid of holding nursing homes, hospitals and other care facilities accountable in nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits. We have fought for justice on behalf of aging adults and their loved ones across Florida for years.
To get started, please call our North Miami Beach law office at 305-670-2000. Your initial consultation is free. You won’t have to pay attorney fees or costs out of pocket since we handle these cases on a contingency basis.
